Detweiler: Living Marion's downtown history at the Palace Theatre
Since the commute to my last job was 1,958 miles from Marion to Maho Beach, Saint Maarten, the 90 seconds it takes me to leave my apartment and hang up my coat in my office is a welcome extreme. Working at the Palace Theatre on West Center Street and living in the Harding Centre across the street certainly has its advantages. Living and working in two of the most historically iconic buildings in Marion makes for a convenient and fascinating existence.
The Palace was built in 1928 and is one of nearly 100 theatres designed by European-born American architect John Eberson. The Marion Palace is one of only 16 Eberson theatres remaining in operation.
Ever since the Palace Cultural Arts Association saved the building from demolition in 1975 for a mere $78,000 and within a year, with the help of $500,000 in local donations, restored it to former glory, the Palace Theatre has been the cornerstone of the arts community in Marion.
The Hotel Harding was built in 1924, a good four years before the Palace, and the pair still make a handsome couple. Both were built when railroad tracks ran down the middle of Center Street, when Marion was a crossroads for four major railroad companies. Traveling theatrical companies coming and going between New York and Chicago would stop and perform in Marion, when it was a sought after and notable destination thanks to the attention it got from being the hometown of our 29th president.
The Hotel Harding was converted to a senior living space in the 1990s and now is home to a mixture of seniors and OSUM students. If you believe a story on the website “Spooky Marion,” a couple of ghosts have also taken up residence in the basement. Living there is very peaceful and quiet, and I have never encountered anything but polite neighbors and some great food at the Harding Harbor Seafood Restaurant on the first floor!
As executive director at the Palace, I have had to close up shop a couple of late nights by myself, and although I haven’t had any supernatural experiences, a couple of Palace veterans have told me late at night they have heard the faint and distant sound of a woman singing and vocalizing from an unidentifiable location. Two of my staff members claimed to have heard a disembodied voice say “hello” when they were the only ones in the theatre. Every so often, a water faucet will turn itself on. And most recently, I’ve discovered a vintage 1928 doll who resides in the office space has randomly changed locations. Spooky? Not really. But definitely cool.
But don’t let that scare you away from a visit to my second home! If you haven’t been to the Palace lately, your next opportunity will be Feb. 12 in the May Pavilion when we present a Valentine’s weekend treat, “Dueling Pianos.” On Feb. 18, 19 and 20, the future of Marion’s theatre community will perform the Junior Play, “Back to the ‘80s,” directed by Emily Yaksic. More events taking place this month include the 1989 romantic comedy movie, “When Harry Met Sally” (Feb. 11 & 13), Trivia Night in the May (Feb. 17), the musical comedy, “The Church Basement Ladies” (Feb. 26), and Line Dance lessons with yours truly (Feb. 28).
Kirk Detweiler is the executive director of the Marion Palace Theatre. For more information about theatre events and activities, go to marionpalace.org.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Palace Theatre and Harding Centre - part of Marion's history
